The last few minutes of Montevallo’s NCAA tournament game on Saturday served as a great description for its 2024-25 campaign.

Down 81-70 with 2:41 to go in the first-round matchup against Florida Southern, a 3-point basket from Jaylen Curry with just under two minutes on the clock started a 9-3 run that Montevallo closed out on before a potential game-tying shot fell short as time expired.

“We had a ball in the air to tie the game at the end,” Montevallo coach Anthony Komara said. “I thought that says a lot about our team. We’ve overcome a lot of adversity this year and I am so proud of our players and I cannot state that enough.

“I am so proud of our players, it’s been an unbelievable year and we’re excited for our future.”

Montevallo’s remarkable season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament with a tough 86-83 loss to Florida Southern.

The Falcons finished the year 20-11, punching its first ticket to the NCAA tournament since the 2016 season.

Even with Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year Alex Steen logging just 7 points and getting five shots off, Florida Southern shot a solid 35-for-70 from the field as five players finished in double figures in the hard-fought game;

“That’s what you get this time of year,” Komara said. “Whoever you play here is going to be really good, so credit to them.”

Montevallo shot 32-for-72 (44.4%) from the field and 7-for-26 (26.9%) from 3-point range. Komara noted that he’s confident that the group’s “Achilles heel” will improve next season for the Falcons.

He added that he expects his team to return stronger next year with plenty of returning veterans.

“I can’t even sleep at night, I’m so excited about it,” the coach said. “We rolled out two juniors, a freshman and two sophomores out there and we’re playing against, like, 24-year olds. I am so pumped up about what we’ve got going, and these guys have completely changed our culture, our program; what we have going on at Montevallo is really special.

“A lot of people don’t get to see that, the inside of it, but man, it’s a special group and a special program to be a part of.”

Montevallo’s Derek Moore piled up a game-high 23 points as he went 10-for-15 from the field, also leading the Falcons in rebounds (8) and assists (5) in the loss.

Brandon Fussell finished with 21 points and 4 assists on a 9-for-18 shooting day, while Curry also scored in double figures with 18 points and 7 rebounds for Montevallo.

Fussell, a graduate of Guntersville High School, credited the coaching staff for the job done this season.

“What he’s done here in three years is incredible,” the sophomore said. “We were picked ninth in the conference and made it to Samford, so it’s no coincidence that Montevallo made the NCAA tournament for the first time in however many years.”

Moore is one of many players on this roster expected to return for Montevallo, as the Birmingham native looks forward to what’s next for this program.

“That’s a testament to all of our seniors, that’s a testament to our coach for bringing in culture guys,” the Springville High alum said. “All our freshmen coming in are big culture guys, and you see the result of it. When you bring in good humans, it just all fits together on the basketball court.”